Special to the Reading Eagle: David A. Kostival |
Red-clad Reading School District teachers wait outside the administration building Wednesday to attend a school board meeting to request that a new teachers contract be approved.

Reading School District taxes to stay the same

Public comment includes a plea from the teachers union for a new contract and from I-LEAD Charter school supporters to renew its charter.

Written by David A. Kostival - Reading Eagle correspondent

Reading, PA —

The Reading School Board held the line on taxes Wednesday when it unanimously voted to approve a 2019-20 budget.

The $300.9 million spending plan is 6.4% higher than this year's spending plan.

But property taxes will continue to be 17.93 mills.

The budget will rely on using $14 million from the district's $56 million reserve fund balance.

The school district was facing a tax increase of up to 3.8% at the beginning of May, but new versions of the budget presented to the board over the past several weeks eliminated the need for any tax hike.

Property owners will continue to pay $17.93 for each $1,000 of assessed property value, or $1,793 for a property assessed at $100,000.

In other business, district teachers packed the board room and adjacent hallways with a standing-room-only crowd to urge the board to approve a new teachers contract. The current contract between the teachers union and the school district expires Aug. 31.

The teachers — dressed in red t-shirts — were represented by Rebecca Titus, president of the Reading Education Association.

“I am speaking to you on behalf of the educators who dedicate themselves daily to the Reading School District,” Titus said. “We as an association are eager to negotiate a contract to acknowledge that commitment so that we can continue to serve the students of the Reading school district, because that is what they deserve.”

The topic did not appear on the board's voting agenda.

Also during the public comment portion of the meeting, the board heard a plea from Danny Natal, director of security at the I-LEAD Charter School, to renew the school's charter.

“Why can't you come to a decision and make a difference for 400 students?” Natal asked. “Why are you wasting so much taxpayer money? We are supposed to be like a family, so instead of hurting our children and our future, come and visit our school to see what we are all about.”

The charter school's future also was not on Wednesday's agenda.

I-LEAD and the district have had disagreements over the charter for years.

The district renewed the charter for five years in October 2013 but revoked it in 2015. I-LEAD contested the decision to the state Charter School Appeal Board in 2017, and the board overturned the revocation.

The district then appealed to Commonwealth Court, which in March sent the decision back to the Charter School Appeal Board, leaving the charter in limbo.

Following the meeting, Dr. Khalid N. Mumin, superintendent, said the board is following a process.

Mumin said the fact that the charter has expired does not affect the operations of I-LEAD.

Also Wednesday, the board honored Gordon Hoodak, the longtime principal of Laurer's Park Elementary School

Hoodak, who has worked for the district for 47 years, will retire on July 26.

“Hoodak is a legend in this district,” Mumin said. “Mr. Hoodak has always been gracious with his leadership by being inclusive and not being selfish. We truly believe that we are trending for the better because of Mr. Hoodak.”